California Hunter Safety Course

Break-Action or Hinge-Action Pistol

The break-action or hinge-action pistol operates similar to a break-action rifle or shotgun. To load a cartridge, push on the chamber-release lever and pivot the barrel down. The chamber is separated from the firing mechanism and ammunition can be inserted into the chamber. The pistol is ready to fire once the chamber is closed. After firing, press on the release lever to open the action. Some break-action pistols have automatic ejectors. Others require you to remove spent cartridges or shot shellsAmmunition used in shotguns. Can be loaded with multiple pellets or a single slug as the projectile. manually. Also of note, some break-action models have a half-cock hammer safety.